The purpose of this Alliance is to provide information, guidance and training resources to reduce and prevent injuries and illnesses. This is to protect employees' health and safety, particularly in preventing exposure to bloodborne pathogen hazards and other hazards related to medical and dental facilities.

Emailed discussions or phone conversations were held on December 2, 2008, January 14, 2009, January 16, 2009, February 19, 2009, March 3, 2009, March 4, 2009, March 5, 2009, March 9, 2009, April 14, 2009, September 3, 2009, September 10, 2009, September 10, 2009, September 16, 2009, and September 28, 2009.

Activities and Products

Evaluation Period

October 2007 - September 2009

Alliance Activity

Training and Education

A total of 10 training sessions were held to educate health care professionals in regard to the necessity of annual safety and health training and education.

Outreach and Communication

Continuing in the most frequently asked questions, participants wrote their questions on index cards. The questions were answered on site.

OSHA staffed a booth at the Chicago Dental Society™ winter meeting, Feb 27 and 28, 2008. Publications were distributed and OSHA staff was available to answer questions. Over 31,000 dental professionals attended the conference.

OSHA provided handouts at each training session along with handouts provided by the Chicago Medical Society. Handouts included: The OSHA poster, Best Practices for the Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care, Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Service Workers, Model Plans and Programs for the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens and Hazard Communications Standards, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers and Ethylene Oxide (EtO): Understanding OSHA's Exposure Monitoring Requirements.

Promoting the National Dialogue on Safety and Health

Alliance Products

Same as above.

Results

At the end of every training session, the attendees completed an evaluation form. Almost every attendee gave a very high score and said that they learned something new that they could apply to their own facility. Participants say they benefit from hearing what OSHA requires and having their questions answered.

Continuing Education Units, (CEUs) have been awarded from the American Dental Association for the dentists and the Chicago Medical Society for the physicians.

Upcoming Milestones

OSHA will have a booth at the Annual CDS Conference and Meeting Feb 27-28, 2009. It is expected that over 35,000 people will attend.

The Chicago Medical Society is having their 65th Annual Midwest Clinical Conference April 17-19, 2009. OSHA will speak and staff a booth at the conference.

Approximately ten two-hour training sessions will be given on OSHA requirements during the next fiscal year. The course material will change from bloodborne pathogens and hazard communication to a bigger picture of OSHA requirements in health care settings.

An article will be written discussing the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards in the health care industry for distribution in the Chicago Dental Society's bi-monthly publication.

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